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ATTORNEY Patented July 29, 1919.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANCIS H.- PAT'IEN, OF WILKINSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR 1'0 WESTINGHOUSE I ELECTRIC AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

latented July 29, 1919.

Application filed September 10, 1914. Serial No. 861,042.

To allwlwm it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANCIS H. PA'rrEN, a

citizen of the United States, and a residentof Wilkinsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Cut-Outs, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to cut outs, and it has particular reference to such mechanisms as are employed in connection with the elec-.

I provide a cut out having an armature member,the normal position of which is adjustable relatively to the electromagnet which actuates it to control an electrical circuit. The armature member is arranged for lateral and longitudinal movements, suitable guiding means being provided for the armature member during such movements.

The details of my invention will .be described in connection with the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a side view, partially in section and partially in elevation, of a cut out constructed in accordance with my invention. ,Figs. 2 and 3 are plan views of details. Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view of circuits and apparatus employed in connection with my invention. Fig. 5 is a view, in section, of the stationary contact member andassociated parts.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the cut out 1 comprises a base member 2 of magneticmaterial upon which are mounted core-members 3 and 4 that are respectively surrounded by a coil 5 of comparatively fine wire and a coil 6 of relatively coarse wire. The coils 5 and 6 are adapted to be connected in shunt and series relations, respectively, to a source of current. Abar 7 of non-magnetic material is fixed to the core members 3 and 4: by screws 8 which constitute pole pieces for the core members. The bar 7 is provided, at one end, with a raised portion 9 to which is secured one end of a blade spring 10.

A movable armature member 11 is attached to the opposite end of the spring 10. The armature member 11 is provided, at one end, with a reduced portion 12 which projects through a suitable slot 13 in the bar 7. This construction permits a slidable movement of the armature member 11 relatively to the bar 7 when the armature member is actuated laterally. The opposite end of the armature 11 is provided with a slot 14 to receive an adjustable screw 15 that is connected to the bar 7. The head of the screw 15 limits the outward movement of the armature member 11 and thus determines the normal position of the armature member relatively to the pole pieces 8. A contact member 16, which is mounted upon, and connected to, the armature member 11, coacts with a stationary contact member 17 that is mounted 'upon and connected to a horizontally projecting portion of an insulated terminal member 18 that consists, either wholly or in part, of phosphor bronze or other suitable resilient material. The contact member 17 is connected to one terminal of each of the coils 5 and 6.

Referring now to Fig. 1, the coils 5 and 6 are-respectively in shunt and in series with the armature of a dynamo-electric machine 19, the coil 5 being in series with the shunt field winding 20. These connections are preferably made within the structure of the dynamo-electric machine and form a part of its interior circuits. A storage battery 21 is connected directly to one terminal of the dynamoelectric machine, the other terminal of the battery being grounded, as shown. The contact member 16 is grounded through the spring 10, the bar 7, the core members 3 and 4 and the frame of the dynamo-electric machine.

It may be assumed that the generator 19 is operatively connected to the engine of an automobile (not shown). When the enginestarts under its own power, current flows from one terminal of the generator through the series field winding 22, series coil 6, shunt coil 5, and shunt field winding 20 to the other terminal of the generator. 'As the generator speed increases, a predetermined voltage is reached at which the coils 5 and 6 are sufficiently energized to draw the armature member 11 downwardly against the tension of the spring 10 to effect the engagement of the contact members 16 and 17. The battery charging circuit, which is thereby completed, extends from one terminal of the generator, through the series field winding 22, series coil 6, contact members 17 and 16, and

latter, and, as a result, the spring 10 drawsthe armature member 11 upwardly. The charging circuit is thus broken by the separation of the contact members 16 and 1,7, and it cannot be closed again until the generator voltage has reached the predetermined value at which the cut out is adjusted to operate. U

The cut out will be adjusted to operate at a predetermined voltage when it is assem'bled at the place of manufacture. This predetermined value may, however, be varied at any time-while the cut out is-in operation by adjusting the screw 15 and thereby varying the normal position of the armature member 11 relatively to the pole pieces 8. I

It will be noted that I provide a switching device having a simple and convenient means for adjusting the voltage value atwhich it operates to control a battery-charging circuit. armature member is connected to the supporting bar by the springlO and the stationary contact member is resiliently mounted provides a sliding or wiping engagement of the contact members. This-action is produced by reason of the fact that the end of the armature'member to which the spring.

and contact member are attached moves in a circular path about the fixed end of the spring while the other contact member moves in a straight line when the electromagnet actuates the armature member downwardly. The resilient mounting of the stationary contact member also insures that the contact members will not be damaged by the impact of their engagement or by excessive vibration of the mechanism.

The slidable mounting of the armature member avoids the use of pivotal connections and insures that the movement of the armature member is always free and unobstructed.

It is understood that such modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention as fall within the scope of the appended claims. I claim as myinvention',

In a cut out, the combination with a pair ofrelatively movable cooperating con-- tact members, of a laterally and longitudinally movable armature member for carrying one of said contact members, and means, comprising an electromagnet, for operating The construction whereby the said armature member laterally and longitudinally and causin said contact members to have a substantia wiping or slldlng engagement with one another.

'2. In a cut out, the combination with a pair of relatively, movable cooperating contact members, of a laterally and longitudi= nally movable armature .member for carrying one of said contact members, means, comprising an electromagnet, for operating said armature member and causing said contact members to have a wiping or slidingbngagement with one another that is suflicient to X prevent pitting of said contacts, and means for guiding the movements of said armature member. 3. In a cut out, the combination with a pair of relatively movable cooperating contact members, of a laterally and longitudinally operable armature member for carrying one of said contact members and means, comprising an'clectromagnet, for operating said armature member to move said contact members in parallel planes and in intersecting directions while efi'ecting engagement.

4. In a cut out, the combination with an electromagnet and a pair of relatively movable contact members, of a supporting memher, an armature member for carrying one of said contact members and arranged for slid= a'ble movement relatively to said supporting member, and a spring connecting said arma ture member to said supporting member for producing longitudinal movementof said armature member when the latter 1s actuated laterally.

5. In a cut out, the combination with an 'electromagnet, a supporting member having a slot, and a spring secured to said member, of a longitudinally movable armature member attached to said spring and having a por- Y tion projecting into said slot, a stationary contact member, a movable contact member carried by said armature member, and means for adjusting the normal position of said armature member.

6. Ina cut out, the combination with an 'electromagnet, of an armature operable thereby, a contact member carried by said ar-' mature, a resiliently mounted contact mem-' ber engageable by the aforesaid contact member, and means for yieldingly supporting and actuating said armature so that it will have a predetermined movement of translation to cause said contact members to slide relatively and in contact with one another when the armature is attracted by said electromagnet. 7. In a cut out, the combination with a stationary contact member resiliently mounted, of a movable contact member for coacting therewith, an armature member for carrying said movable contact member, and means for producing simultaneous lateral and longitudinal movements of said armature, said means comprising a spring 'for yieldingly retaining said armature member in an inoperative position. 8. In a cut out, the combination with a stationary contact member resiliently mounted, of a movable contact member for coacting therewith, an armature member for carrying said movable contact member, and means for producing simultaneous lateral and longitudinal movements of said armature to cause a sliding engagement of said contact members. 9. In a cut out, the combination with a stationary contact member resiliently mounted, of a movable contact member for coacting therewith, an armature member for carrying said movable contact member, and means for producing simultaneous lateral and longitudinal movements of said armature to cause 'a sliding engagement of said contact members, said means comprising a spring attached to said armature member at the end adjacent said *contact member, the other end of said armature being loosely mounted. I I I 10. In a cut out, the combination with an electromagnet of an armature operable thereby, a contact member carried by said armature, means i for supporting said armature 1n operatlve positlon comprismg a bar, means for determining the longitudinal and lateralmovements of said armature, a leaf spring secured to said armature and to said bar, and a resiliently mounted contact member adapted to be slidably engaged by said contact member on the armature. J

11. In a'cut out, the combination with a pair of cooperating contact members, of renally movable armature member for carrying one of said contact members, means comprising an electromagnet, for operating said armature member and causing both of said contact members to have a sliding movement in different directions relative to each other to prevent the pitting of said contact members, and means for guiding the movements of said armature member.

13. In a cut out, the combination with a resiliently mounted contact member, of a movable contact member for co-acting therewith, an armature member serving to carry said movable contact member and mounted for simultaneous lateral I and longitudinal movements and means, comprising said armature member, for moving both of said contact members in different directions relative to each other While effecting engagement.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 28th day of Aug, 1914.

FRANCIS H. PATTEN. 

